Friday, September 30, 2016
www.ptrgv.com | 25 Cents
Vol. 45 No. 9
County approves $5M budget increase, hikes minimum wage to $12
Opponents face off in Proposition 1 debate
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By Jim Brunson he conversation is mounting regarding Proposition 1, the proposal on the Nov. 8 ballot to establish a new Hidalgo County healthcare tax district. Voters are hungry for more information about the proposal that is being touted by its proponents as a means to increase funding for indigent healthcare and uncompensated medical care as well as help fund the new Rio Grande Valley medical school. However, when pressed for details, no one seems to be able to provide any. That includes the spokesmen chosen to speak at a debate held by the McAllen Civic League Thursday, Sept. 22 at the Salvation Army building in McAllen. Dr. Martin Garza, a pediatrician, expressed his support for the healthcare district by presenting his vision of a future major medical center emerging in Hidalgo County as a result of the medical school and funding from the proposed healthcare district. During his presentation, the
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By Mario Guel II idalgo County commissioners adopted the 2016-2017 budget and set the tax rate on Tuesday, Sept. 27 following a public hearing on both items. Nearly $2 million of the county’s $5 million budget increase for the 2016-2017 fiscal year is due to adding 26 new positions to the payroll, an increase in the county minimum wage, and increased health insurance costs. The budget provides for an increase in the county’s minimum wage from $10.10 to $12 an hour, a 19 percent increase, at an added cost of $218,157 annually. Due to the rising cost of health insurance, a two percent increase in the health insurance contribution rates will add $376,000 to the budget this year. The 26 new positions being added to the county payroll will cost taxpayers approximately $1.3 million annually. The 2017 general fund budget of $194 million grew by $5 million. Last year’s budget was $189 million. Overall, the county’s total expenditures, budgeted
Pct. 2 County Commissioner Eddie Cantu addresses a full house at the debate on Proposition 1, hosted last Thursday by the McAllen Civic League. Seated at left is Dr. Martin Garza, while League President Chris Julian is shown at right. Progress Times Photo
doctor showed the packed room of league members and guests slides depicting the Texas Medical Center in Houston as it looks today, and a 1943 photo of the raw land before any facilities were constructed. He also presented pictures representing before and after images of the University of
Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, where he trained. “So, when you look at visions like this, you’re not merely looking at one individual, a few individuals, a couple of people. When you have a vision that looks exactly like it does up in that right corner… it includes
something for everyone,” he said during his opening remarks. Hidalgo County Precinct 3 Commissioner Eddie Cantu, representing the opponents to the healthcare district at the debate, on the other hand said, when the legislation was being rewrit-
See PROP 1 Pg. 5
Mission Industrial Park running out of real estate
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By Jose De Leon III uring a recent board meeting of the Mission Economic Development Corporation, MEDC CEO Alex Meade mentioned the Mission Industrial Park has only 10 to 15 acres of land left to sell. That prompted the question: What’s next? This article gives a brief overview of the Mission Industrial Park and what’s next after the Mission Industrial Park runs out of real estate. Future articles will take a closer look at some of the companies located there that provide important jobs for the community. Located behind the Mission Regional Medical Center on South Bryan Road, the 70-acre Mission Industrial Park is home to dozens of manufacturing companies providing hundreds of jobs for residents of Mission and surrounding communities. Just one of these companies, Royal Technologies Corp., an injection molding company, already provides 200 jobs and is expected to provide up to 400 jobs after five years. Some of the other corporate residents of the park include the main office for LFD Furniture; Southwest Steel, a steel modification company; and Metal Processing International, or MPI. According to Meade, MEDC has recruited companies to locate their operations in the industrial park, which consequently have invested a total of $150 million in the
at $275 million for 2017, including other revenue fund sources, have increased steadily since 2014. This year’s total budget of $275 million reflects a $12 million increase over last year. In 2014, the county’s total budget was $250 million; in 2015 it climbed to $256 million. Tuesday, the Commissioners’ Court unanimously approved to preserve the ad valorem tax rate of 59 cents per $100 valuation. The maintenance and operations tax rate decreased from $0.5225 to $0.5186 per $100 valuation, and the debt service tax rate increased from $0.0675 to $0.0714. During a public hearing on the county’s proposed budget, members of the OWLS (Objective Watchers of the Legal System) questioned some of the court’s decisions, including hiring practices throughout the county and not rolling back the tax rate. Commissioner Eduardo “Eddie” Cantu of Pct. 2 acknowledged their concerns and urged his colleagues to do what they can to avoid increasing the num-
See BUDGET Pg. 8
Mission’s Downtown La Placita to get a facelift
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he City of Mission is finally planning to give Leo Pena “La Placita” Park, located in downtown Mission, a major facelift. The park, originally built in the 1980s, is used for a number of major community events, including the Texas Citrus Fiesta Fun Fair, the recent National Night Out event, and the Winter Texan Fiesta in February. However, every time an event is held there are concerns that the concrete apron surrounding
ery; that’s all taxable through property taxes,” the CEO said. These companies have a major impact on the local economy by providing high-paying jobs. Mission residents employed there spend more money on goods and services in the city, spreading the economic impact throughout the community. Meade mentioned that Royal Technologies is the largest manufacturing plant
See LA PLACITA Pg. 11
Mission Police purchase license plate reader
Royal Technologies, IMCO Lumber and Crawford Electric Supply are just three of the dozens of corporations with operations in the 70acre Mission Industrial Park. Progress Times Photo
city. Meade believes the industrial park, which has been in existence for more than 20 years, has had a positive effect in improving the local economy by providing jobs for local residents. According to Meade, whenever the city invests in a new company, everyone ends up benefiting from it. “Several of the companies such as Royal Technologies ended up investing $35M for buildings [and] machin-
the amphitheater has large cracks, creating an uneven surface, and the amphitheater itself is inaccessible for those with restricted mobility. The city has secured approval to utilize the $533,600 remaining from the downtown Streetscape Project to help fund La Placita improvements. The city will contribute approximately $100,000 in matching funds for the project.
in the Valley on the U.S. side, as most area manufacturing plants are located in Reynosa in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas. However, when Royal Technologies opened in Mission, it set an example for other companies. “Royal showed that companies can open a location on this side of the border and still be profitable,” he said. “Companies are realizing the costs of labor here are stabilizing to where they’re com
See INDUSTRIAL Pg. 8
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t Monday’s Mission City Council meeting, Police Chief Robert Dominguez was authorized to accept a grant from the Officer of the Governor– Criminal Justice Division to allow the Mission Police Department to purchase a license plate reader. It will be used to identify stolen vehicles moving on the Mission roads. It will also aid law enforcement to determine the density of traffic on certain roads. Street Overlay Changes
A change order for $55,000 was approved for the Mission Street Overlay project to allow for additional work to be done of Lee and Barnes Streets and Holland Avenue and FM 495 to accommodate traffic needs at the Idea School campus. B&G Club Provides Services for Idea Academy The council approved an agreement with Idea Public School District to provide reading, technology and arts and crafts instruction at the
See POLICE Pg. 11
INSIDE
INDEX
Rattlers rolling into matchup against Roma
County hikes minimum wage
La Joya opens District 306A with statement win
The Sharyland Rattlers are on a roll, winning three consecutive games. Now 2-0 in district play, they will host the pre-season favorite Roma Gladiators at Richard Thompson Stadium tonight.
Progress Times publisher Jim Brunson has something to say about the county’s action this week, increasing the minimum wage sharply for county employees.
With last Friday’s 21-0 victory over the Mission Eagles, the La Joya Coyotes will challenge the McAllen Bulldogs tonight at McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium.
See story, page 6
See column, page 4
See story, page 7
Entertainment | pg. 2
Lifestyle | pg. 3
Opinion | pg. 4
Sports | pg. 6
Obituaries | pg. 9
Classifieds | pg. 11
entertainment Artists sought for UVAL public exhibit
F Join Jonathan Wood with the Raptor Project at PalmFest 2016 this weekend, Oct. 1 and 2, at the McAllen Convention Center.
‘Into the Wild’ exhibits expand PalmFest 2016 experience
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cALLEN – Organizers for PalmFest 2016 have expanded their horizons inviting “Into the Wild” indoor exhibits to this year’s event. Offering hands-on activities for children, the exhibits also feature Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math (STEAM) learning activities on Saturday and Sunday, October 1 and 2 at the McAllen Convention Center. STEAM is the new STEM lingo used nationwide to promote awareness of the need to promote student interest in careers in these fields. Jumping on the train, PalmFest is offering a wide range of activities to be explored in the themed rooms including hands-on activities from museums, nature parks and other organizations. In the ballroom there will be a sequence of shows, including Jonathan Wood’s LIVE Wild Birds of Prey, Danny Connor’s LIVE Reptile Adventures, and Animal Contacto’s LIVE Wild Creatures. The public is invited to check out the “Living Wall” on display in the main lobby. This new trend in indoor gardening provides a backdrop for over 50 species of Valley native plants. Head over to Sylvan Learning Center’s booth and learn how to do “coding,” nearby check out the robots
and chat with the robotics engineers from UTRGV’s engineering school. Various art stations, like making origami monarch butterflies, are lined up for the hands-on experience. Guests should make a special trip to see the “PALMART” exhibit in the main entry. Community members of all ages came up with creative ways to paint on palm fronds. Intriguing challenges can be found at the Public Works booth, and the Valley Bird Family art exhibit offers over 500 species of birds colored by Milam Elementary students. There are live animals, creature features, costumed storybook characters, a train display, a heritage museum play, insects, sea turtles, zoo animals, a native American tee-pee, puppet shows, a pop-up library, recycle games and more to keep the entire family involved. Children can pick up a passport near the indoor information desk and collect as many STEAM stickers as they can to win a prize from the “Gemstone River” with real gemstones. Kids 12 and under are free, adult admission is $5 with free parking. For more information, visit www. palmfest.com.
riday, Oct. 21, is the next change to the Upper Valley Art League exhibit at Edward Jones Office. The dedicated showing will be on display through April, 2017. All submitting artists must be a member of UVAL. Interested persons are invited to join to participate in the exhibition. Wall art of all media will be accepted, including watercolor, acrylic, oil, graphics, photography and more. Space will accommodate widths up to 40” maximum. Smaller pieces will be arranged to fit the space avail-
able. Artists may submit up to three pieces, but they must be rated them for preference if space is limited. Art work may be delivered earlier to Upper Valley Art League Gallery to be stored in the drying room until installation on Oct. 21, or take it to the Edward Jones office on Oct. 21 and assist in arranging and hanging. Artists who have art currently displayed should plan to collect their work at that time. For more information, contact Rene Trevino Jr. at 956-599-5982 or via email at renetrevinojr@yahoo.com.
Singers wanted for Sweet Adelines
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nyone who loves to sing a cappella is invited to join the Magic Valley Chorus of Sweet Adelines International. The group practices on Monday nights from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Village at Westlakes hall, 4101 Carnation in McAllen. Voice placement begins at 6:30 p.m. No previous music training is needed. Local
residents and Winter Texans are welcomed. Magic Valley Chorus sings barbershop style music across the Valley. For more information, call Janet at 956-682-8245, Shirley at 956-661-9926 or visit their website at magicvalleychorus.com.
DINBURG – It’s time for the annual Fall Movie Night in the Park at the Edinburg World Birding Center (EWBC). On Saturday, Oct. 8, join the staff and take the family out for a double feature celebrating the migratory journey of the monarch butterfly with an outdoor showing of “Flight of the Butterflies” and “Amazing Journeys.”
The movies will be shown on a large outdoor screen, and people are encouraged to bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on. The first movie will begin at 7:30 p.m. Entrance is free. Snacks and beverages will be available for purchase. The EWBC is located at 714 S. Raul Longoria Rd. For information, call 956381-9922.
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EWBC hosts Fall Movie Night
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Orchid lovers to meet
ESLACO – The Tip of Texas Orchid Society invites the public to their next meeting at the Valley Nature Center in Weslaco on Sunday, Oct. 2, at 2 p.m. Dan Bruckner will show photos and discuss the orchids at the South Texas Botanical Garden in Cor-
pus Christi and offer hints on growing healthy orchids in the Valley. There will be an orchid drawing and several different types of orchids and supplies will be for sale.
September 30, 2016
page 2
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NEWS | SPORTS | ENTERTAINMENT | PHOTOS
Coming Attractions
October 1 • The Gladys Porter Zoo’s annual fundraiser, Zoofari 2016, runs from 6 p.m. to midnight on the grounds at 500 Ringgold in Brownsville. It ends with a concert featuring country singer and songwriter Nestor AnDress. It kicks off with cocktails on the patio at 6 p.m. The doors to the special events building will open for the blackboard auction at 6:30 p.m. Dinner begins at 7 p.m., followed by the live auction at 8:15 p.m. and the concert at 9:30 p.m. Tickets to the concert only are $10. Premiere tickets for the entire event are $125 for GPZ members and $135 for non-members. To purchase, visit www.gpz.org. For more information, call 956-546-7187. October 1-2 • Tracy Lawrence is the headline act for the 11th Annual PalmFest International Folklife Celebration. Event times run 12 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, with Lawrence going on stage at 8 p.m. Sunday festival hours are 12 to 8 p.m. Parking is free. Concert tickets are available at ticketmaster.com or on the McAllen Convention Center web site. Prices start $18. Admission to PalmFest will be included with the purchase of a concert ticket. Separate admission for PalmFest can be purchased. A multi-genre list of local artists will perform – from Country to Pop, Acoustic to Tejano and Latin to Blues. There will be dancing, shopping, food, hands-on activities for kids, along with live animal programs and technological, nature and cultural exhibits. For more information, call 956-6813800. October 5 • The “Got Faith” concert series offers a night of bilingual worship with Chris Tomlin and Latin guest star Jon Carlo. It begins at 5 p.m. Tickets start at $25 and go up to $100. Purchase at ticketmaster.com or call 800-745-3000. October 7 • The legendary Elton John brings his band to the Valley for a one-night performance during his “Wonderful Crazy Night Tour 2016.” The show begins at 8 p.m., and tickets range from $25 to $100. Purchase tickets online at ticketmaster.com or call 800-745-3000. October 8 • The Upper Valley Art League members’ exhibit will be held at the Kika de la Garza Fine Arts Center, 921 E. 12th St. in Mission. The opening reception is from 7 to 9 p.m. The exhibit will be on display through Nov. 5. For more information, call the gallery at 956-583-2787. To see the complete Coming Attractions calendar, go to ptrgv.com
Save the date for Easter Seals
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cALLEN – Save the date for the Easter Seals 64th Annual Dinner. Selected as the 2016 humanitarian honoree is Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa. The event takes place Thursday, Oct. 27, at the Embassy Suites by Hilton near the
McAllen Convention Center and features a 6 p.m. reception followed by the dinner at 7 p.m. with an Ostrich Egg Auction. For more information and reservations, contact Rebekah Harrison at 956-631-9171 or via email at rharrison@easterseals-rgv.com.
NOW PROVIDING STATE INSPECTIONS
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lifestyle EVENTS
CALENDAR
October 1 – The 8th Annual Mission Pink 5K for Breast Cancer Awareness sign-up is available at www.MissionPink.org. Race-day registration begins at 6:30 a.m., followed by the program and an 8 a.m. start to the race. Entry fees are $10, children ages 7 to 12; $15, teens ages 13 to 17; $25, adults age 18 and over; and $10, cancer survivors. Awards will be given to racers by age bracket and in other contests. For additional information, call 956-323-1100. October 1 – The 45th Annual Leo Najo Day dinner will be held at the Mission Community Center. Doors open at 9 a.m. for reminiscing, and the ceremonies being at 11 a.m. Seven honorees will be inducted into the Hall of Fame and others will receive recognition. The public is invited at no charge for the program. Brisket plates will be available for $7 each and beverages will be sold. For more information, contact Estevis at 956-381-4844. October 4 – Join in the next book discussion at Speer Memorial Library in Mission for a review of “The Kite Runner.” It takes place in the library’s Community Room at 5:30 p.m. in Spanish and at 6:30 p.m. in English. The public is invited to participate. Copies of the book are available to check out to those who sign up. Stop by the library or call at 580-8754 to secure a copy or for more information. Speer Memorial Library is located at 12th and Kika De La Garza in Mission. October 5 – Children ages 5 and under can learn about the water cycle as they read All the Water in the World and participate in activities at the IMAS Young Adventurer Day. It begins at 10 a.m. The program lasts about 30 minutes. Admission is $5 per IMAS member and $10 per nonmember. To register, call 956-682-0123. IMAS is located at 1900 Nolana Ave., McAllen. October 7-8 – The Gladys Porter Zoo, 500 E. Ringgold in Brownsville, will host Upper Valley Appreciation Days with $3 admission. Visitors will need to show proof of residency. Identification such as a driver’s license, utility receipt or school ID will suffice. At least one family member must show proof of residency at the gate. October 8 – Aglow International Spanish Lighthouse Chapter of Mission will hold their next meeting at Emmanuel Adult Day Care, 1312 Oblate Ave. in Mission. It begins with a continental breakfast at 9:30 a.m. followed by the meeting. This month’s speakers will be Roland Garcia and Marisol Garcia sharing their testimonies. For more information, call Lisa Gomez at 956-7768505; Sandy Rodriguez, 956-588-9313; or Gaby Rodriguez, 956240-6607. October 8 – The Museum of South Texas History presents the annual ¡Fandango! at the museum located at 200 N. Closner, Edinburg. With a piñata theme, organizers invite patrons to the party, “¡Fandango! Come See What’s Inside.” The evening offers an auction, food, socializing and prizes. Reserved tables for 10 inclue Premium for $3,000 and Standard for $1,500. Single tickets are $150 each. There is a limited number of each. To secure a reserved table or single tickets, call Cedar Risica, assistant development officer, at 383-6911. Visit the website at mosthistory.org to view photos and descriptions of auction and drawing packages. October 8 – The Rio Grande Valley Diabetes Association’s 10th Annual “Dancing with the Stars of Hidalgo County” fundraiser planned for Saturday, Oct. 8, at 6:30 p.m. at the Corinthian in Mission. The evening offers a full gala, along with the friendly competition. In addition, there will also be a cocktail hour, gourmet dining, live/silent auction and dancing to the music by Joe Rock Entertainment. All funds raised by events such as these are used directly for the benefit of the residents of Hidalgo County. For information, to become a sponsor, to donate an auction item or to purchase tickets, call 956-782-1900. October 13 – The Greater Mission Chamber of Commerce staff is hosting the annual GMCC banquet to introduce its new board of directors and present their annual business awards. The annual citizens awards by the Progress Times will be presented that evening as well. The event takes place from 6 to 9 p.m. at Mario’s Banquet and Conference Center, 1716 E. Griffin Parkway, Mission. This year’s theme is “Roarin’ 20’s.” Tickets are $100 per person. Full tables and sponsorship opportunities are available. To purchase or for more information, contact the GMCC at 956-5852727 or via email at events@missionchamber.com. October 13 – The Valley Scholars Program at South Texas College presents the 11th Annual “A Night with the Stars” on Thursday, Oct. 13. The theme “A Tribute to Star Supporters of Education” has been designated to honor all sponsors for their continuing support to the program. For more information, visit nightwithstars.southtexascollege.edu or contact Jessica S. Garcia at 956-872-1952 or via email at jsando40@southtexascollege.edu. October 14 – The 27th Annual 4-H Country Hoedown will take place at 6 p.m. at Las Palmas Race Park in Mission. The evening includes a concert featuring Johnny Lee, dinner and beverages, a live auction and drawings to help raise scholarship funds for 4-H high school seniors. Tickets are $75 per person or $1,000 for a table for 10. Businesses and individuals are invited to donate items for the auction or to make direct monetary donations. Contact Mary Kelley at 956-929-4767, via email at 4hfoundation@ gmail.com, or go to 4hfoundation.net. For daily events and upcoming weeks, see the full calendar at ptrgv.com.
PARKS CALENDAR
REUNIONS &MEETINGS
2017
Princess Anna Pageant
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NEWS | SPORTS | ENTERTAINMENT | PHOTOS
Lions Club selling sirloin barbecue tickets
et your tickets now for the wonderful top sirloin barbecue served up by your local Mission Lions Club members. You’ll get a great tasting meal for only $8 and help a good cause right here in our own community. On Sunday, Oct. 30, the Mission Lions Club is serving up their annual fall barbecue of top sirloin with all the trimmings. Plates are $8 each and can be picked up at Hidalgo County Veterans Pavilion, S. Inspiration Road in Mission. Tickets must be purchased in advance from any Mission Lions Club member. It is carryout only from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. This is one of the club’s major fundraisers for the year with net proceeds funding much of what the group does to help those in need in the Valley, across Texas and internationally. Lions Club philanthro-
pies includes a variety of services, such as free vision screenings and glasses for those who can’t afford it, building wheelchair ramps, scholarships to Mission and Sharyland high school students, backpacks filled with school supplies to Mission area students, hand-powered carts for handicapped in Mexico and third-world countries. These services are provided at no cost to the recipients. It also includes assisting organizations such as Leader Dogs for the Blind, Texas Eye Bank, Mission Food Pantry and Texas Lions Camp for Handicapped Children. To get tickets, call Jim Brunson at 956-534-1100 or contact any Lions Club member. For more information on how Lions Clubs serve those in need in over 200 countries, go to lionsclubs.org.
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call the Palmhurst City Hall at 956-583-8697.
Palmhurst Night Out now on Oct. 18
ue to inclement weather, the Palmhurst Police Department and the City of Palmhurst cancelled this week’s original National Night Out. The date of their Fifth Annual National Night Out was postponed and changed to Tuesday, Oct. 18, from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at the Church of Christ, 1410 E. Mile 3 Road, Palmhurst. There will be mariachi and talent show entertainment, free rides, free school supplies and food. For further information,
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Over 100 La Joya I.S.D. students were selected to take part in the Railway Safety Camp at the University of Texas-RGV this summer.
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Railway engineers in the making
A JOYA – For the second consecutive year, over 100 of LJISD elementary and middle school students participated in the Railway Safety summer camp held at the University of Texas-RGV. The university’s College of Engineering and Computer Science hosted the University Transportation Center for Railway Safety (UTCRS) camp with the support of the Texas Department of Transportation for one week in June and another in July this past summer. LJISD schools were granted a set number of slots per school and were chosen via an application based on grades, attendance and teacher recommendation. Activities included highlevel STEM-based projects that were both competitive and stimulating for the participants. “This type of camp pro-
motes STEM-based careers for all students and serves as an opportunity to close gender gaps in engineering careers which are always in high demand,” stated Mr. Alejandro Carranza, Elementary Science Coordinator for La Joya ISD. “… and it is definitely a great opportunity for our kiddos.” Nine La Joya ISD teachers also took part alongside LJISD students and were under the mentorship of program director, Dr. Constantine Tarawneh. It is important to note that the UTCRS camp is only offered at UTRGV and serves as a model for other universities. The selection process begins in late February and parents of chosen students are notified at the end of March. For further information on the program, go to utrgv.edu/ railwaysafety/.
NEW DATE, SAME TIME, SAME LOCATION
PALMHURST POLICE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2016
Games Rides
Mariachi
Saturday, October 8, 2016 2-4pm at the Mission Community Center 1420 E. Kika De La Garza Mission, TX Application Deadline: Friday, October 3, 2016
September 30, 2016
5:30 PM - 9 PM CHURCH OF CHRIST 1410 E MILE 3 RD PALMHURST, TX 78573
Free School Supplies
Talent Show
Food
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL PALMHURST CITY HALL AT (956) 583-8697
Must be 6 years old on or before Jan, 31, 2017. Participants from all over the Rio Grande Valley are encouraged to participate.
We look forward to seeing you at the 5th Annual Palmhurst National Night Out
5 princesses will be selected to be a part of the 2017 Texas Citrus Fiesta Tangerine Court. 2017 Valley Duchess Applications Also Available
Call Texas Citrus Fiesta For Information About These Events:
(956) 585-9724 Ramiro J. Rodriguez, Jr. Mayor
James Aranda Mayor Pro-Tem
Ramiro Ramiro Ruben J.J.Rodriguez, Rodriguez, Rodriguez, De Leon Jr. Jr. Jr. Ramiro J. Councilman Mayor Mayor Mayor
Robert James JamesA. Aranda Aranda Salinas James Aranda Mayor Mayor Councilman Pro-Tem Pro-Tem Mayor Pro-Tem
Ramiro Ruben Ruben Israel J. Rodriguez, De De Silva Leon Leon Jr. Ruben De Leon Councilman Councilman Mayor Councilman
Ofelia Robert Robert James Peña A. A. Aranda Salinas Salinas Perez Robert A. Salinas Mayor Councilwoman Councilman Councilman Pro-Tem Councilman
Ruben Israel IsraelDe Silva Silva Leon Israel Silva Councilman Councilman Councilman
Ofelia Robert OfeliaPeña Peña Peña A. Salinas Perez Perez Ofelia Perez Councilwoman Councilwoman Councilman Councilwoman
opinion
September 30, 2016
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NEWS | SPORTS | ENTERTAINMENT | PHOTOS
By Ed Sterling Texas Press Association
STATE CAPITAL HIGHLIGHTS
State of Texas may withdraw from federal resettlement program
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USTIN — Texas officials said the state will withdraw from the federal refugee resettlement program if the U.S. Office of Refugee Resettlement does not approve the Lone Star State’s refugee plan by Sept. 30. In a Sept. 21 letter to the Office of Refugee Resettlement, State Refugee Coordinator Kara Crawford gave official notice of Texas’ intention to withdraw from the program. A news release from the governor’s office said the letter was in response to the federal government’s “unwillingness to approve Texas’ updated state refugee plan, which would require national security officials to ensure that refugees do not pose a security threat to Texas.” If Texas withdraws, the state’s role in the program would end effective Jan. 31, 2017, which is 120 days after the Sept. 30 deadline. “Empathy must be balanced with security,” Gov. Greg Abbott said in explaining the state’s position. “Texas has done more than its fair share in aiding refugees, accepting more refugees than any other state between October 2015 and March 2016. While many refugees pose no danger, some pose grave danger, like the Iraqi refugee with ties to ISIS who was arrested earlier this year after he plotted to set off bombs at two malls in Houston. “Despite multiple requests by the State of Texas,” Abbott continued, “the federal government lacks the capability or the will to distinguish the dangerous from the harmless and Texas will not be an accomplice to such dereliction of duty to the American
people. Therefore, Texas will withdraw from the refugee resettlement program. I strongly urge the federal government to completely overhaul a broken and flawed refugee program that increasingly risks American lives.” Texas’ refugee program currently provides: — Temporary cash assistance for refugees who have lived in the U.S. for eight months or less. — Medical assistance for refugees who have lived in the U.S. for eight months or less; and — Social services to eligible refugees who have lived in the U.S. for five years or less. While the Texas Office of Immigration and Refugee Affairs distributes funds to help refugees become employed, learn English and adjust to cultural differences, it is local agencies working with the U.S. Department of State that do the hands-on work in resettling refugees. There are more than 20 private refugee-assisting charities in Texas, located in cities including Abilene, Amarillo, Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio. Paxton appeals Voter ID Texas’ voter identification law has been temporarily relaxed by a court order for the approaching Nov. 8 general election. But Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, in hopes of having the law’s photo identification requirements reinstated, on Sept. 21 filed a petition asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review the case. If Paxton’s petition is granted, the high court will review the summer decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals
for the Fifth Circuit, which remanded the case to a Corpus Christi U.S. District Court for a temporary fix. The Fifth Circuit found that the Texas law is discriminatory in effect, with Hispanic citizens twice as likely and black citizens three times as likely as white citizens not to have photo identification that would be accepted at voting polls. On July 24 U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos of Corpus Christi signed an order stating that a voter may sign an affidavit and present either a valid voter registration certificate or current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document showing the name of the voter. If a voter does not have one of those documents, the voter will need to provide his or her date of birth and the last four digits of his or her Social Security number as a part of the affidavit. Unless there is conclusive evidence of impersonation or an incomplete provisional ballot package, the provisional ballot will be counted. Zika numbers updated Statistics posted Sept. 21 by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control show that Texas so far has had 195 reported cases of Zika, the mosquito-borne virus that can cause illness and birth defects in humans. Other states with the most case counts are New York with 715, Florida with 652, California with 243, New Jersey with 117 and Pennsylvania with 106. Florida had 43 locally acquired cases. No other state has reported any locally acquired cases.
FREE
TIRE RECYCLING Alton Public Works will take and recycle your Tires!! Dates and times available for drop off: October 3-7 • 8 am to 5 pm 416 S. Alton Blvd. East Parking Lot (Behind Warehouse)
Restrictions: • City of Alton RESIDENTS ONLY
(please bring your current water bill to verify you are a garbage service customer).
• Limit 4 tires per household. • Passenger and light truck tires only. • Tires on rims will not be accepted.
For any questions or comments, please contact:
City of Alton Public Works Department
956-432-0792
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We the people... By: Jim Brunson
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County hikes minimum wage 19%
ur county government is at it again. The Hidalgo County commissioners just approved the addition of 26 new positions to the county payroll and increased the county minimum wage to $12 per hour. That’s a 19 percent increase from the current $10.10 minimum wage. How many taxpayers would like to receive a 19 percent pay increase? I know I would. How many small business owners can afford to give that kind of pay raise to their employees? Most can’t. We have come to the point where many businesses cannot compete with the county and other tax-supported entities, such as the school districts, for quality employees. Small businesses, which are an important part of America’s economic engine, cannot afford to offer the benefits offered by our city, county and state governments. Even America’s largest corporations have stopped providing pension plans, because it is too expensive. But for the government, cost is not a problem. Just raise taxes. And in Texas, where most local government revenues come from property taxes, they don’t even have to increase the tax rate, just let the appraisal district increase the property valuations. Years ago, government jobs paid much less than pri-
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vate sector jobs. But there were reasons for that. First of all, government jobs offer security that many private sector jobs do not. It’s a trade-off. Job security, versus higher pay. Another reason the private sector historically paid higher wages is the private sector demands high performance. The private sector business must compete with other businesses to survive, let alone thrive. To be competitive, private businesses demand high productivity and efficiency from their employees. While I have never worked for a governmental entity, I did work for an electrical utility company for 10 years. At the time, utility companies were much like the city or county government. They were a monopoly with no competition in their market area. So, there was no pressure to be competitive, to push employees to work harder. The main reason I was dissatisfied with my job at Houston Lighting and Power Company was seeing the slackers, who spent most of their time in the coffee bar, get the same pay raises as those of us who were motivated and worked hard. While this may not be exactly what you would see today at city hall or the courthouse, there is a different culture that exists in our tax-supported, governmental
entities. There is no competition, thus there is no impetus to achieve greater efficiency or to demand greater job performance. As I have often told our elected officials who oversee local government, I would rather have two hard-working employees than four lazy ones. As we all know, it is difficult in today’s environment for these governmental entities to get rid of those borderline workers who just aren’t the hard workers we’d like to have. It doesn’t matter if one gets paid $10 an hour or $100 an hour, the employer deserves a full day’s work for a full day’s pay – even if that employer is the county or the city. Pay raises for employees in the public sector should be merit based, just as they are in the private sector. The county has no business raising the minimum wage 19 percent in one fell swoop, with no regard for job performance or return on the investment of the taxpayers’ dollar. Is it right for the government to take a man’s money (they call it taxes) and use that money to drive up the cost for his business to hire employees? Is it right for the government to hire a man’s best employees, offering them better wages and more benefits than that man can afford to pay, using his tax dollars to do it? Think about it.
John Cornyn TIMES
Cornyn Urges Senate to Override President’s Veto, Deliver Justice for 9/11 Families
ASHINGTON – This week on the floor U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) urged the Senate to override the President’s veto of the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act. Excerpts of Sen. Cornyn’s remarks are below. “As the Senate knows, today we’re considering the President’s misguided decision to veto a piece of legislation that passed this body unanimously by unanimous consent and likewise passed the House of Representatives with no dissenting votes.” “All of us have come together and agreed that this is appropriate and the right thing to do.” “The Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act will send a strong message to those who sponsor terrorist attacks on American soil, including foreign governments, will answer to those victims and pay for the death and destruction that they cause. Current law already allows for American victims to sue foreign governments for many different offenses committed by their employees commercial wrongs, assault, drunk driving, rape, human trafficking, among others. That’s already part of existing law. JASTA would clarify that sponsoring an act of terrorism in America is added to that list. If we allow lawsuits against foreign governments for bar fights, contract breaches, drunk driving, then we should allow the victims of a terrorist
attack on our soil the opportunity for their day in court as well.” “This legislation has been pending really since 2009, and we have worked through with a number of members concerns that they have expressed along the way in order to modify the legislation and build the consensus that we now have achieved. There have been many different drafts and feedback from members, a lot of consultations with family members who have been affected. And a lot has gone into this legislation. That means that this bill has been negotiated and hammered out over a long period of time, and that’s the reason we were able to garner such strong support from both bodies to get the bill passed.” “The financing of terrorism in the United States is not behavior we should tolerate from any nation, allies included. How can anyone look at the families in the eye and tell them that they shouldn’t have the opportunity to seek justice against a foreign government responsible for the death of their loved one?” “At the end of the day, this vote is about doing what’s right for the American people.” “This Chamber should vote overwhelmingly to override President Obama’s veto of the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act because the families have already suffered too much.” “Our country has changed
undeniably, but for these families, that day and each day serve as a tragic reminder of deep personal loss. One of these family members that I have had the chance to get to know is Marge Mathers, who now calls Texas home. Marge’s husband Charles worked on the 99th floor of the North Tower of the World Trade Center.” “I pledged long ago to Marge and to other families I have met that I would do my very level best to help them right this wrong and to provide them an opportunity to make their case in a court of law. So we would fix this law by extending this 1978 provision, the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, to allow the families and the victims of the 9/11 tragedy to seek justice in a court of law in an American court. These families should have the right to make their case. These families should have the freedom to have their day in court, to have a judge hear their case, and to hold accountable those who played a role in their suffering. That’s what this legislation is all about.” “I hope every member of this body will join me in supporting this bill one more time and will vote to override the President’s veto and further the cause of justice for these victims. “ Senator John Cornyn, a Republican from Texas, is a member of the Senate Judiciary and Finance Committees.
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September 30, 2016
Reminiscing...
Sharyland ag farm to be named after ‘Lacho’ Garza
30 Years Ago
Blaine Holcomb Gets Special TCM Award In the news this week in 1986, Blaine H. Holcomb, manager of Sharyland Orchards and Nurseries, became the recipient of the 1986 Texas Citrus Mutual special award on Sept. 24, 1986. The TCM award winner has been associated with and managing the business of Governor Allan Shivers and the John H. Shary Estate since 1947. These interests have included citrus production, vegetable farming, retail tractor sales, real estate and subdivision investments and oil and gas interests. In presenting the award, Andrew Hill Jr., president of the TCM, said “Blaine Holcomb’s distinguished record of service to the citrus industry has been characterized by progressive leadership and innovation in citrus production and marketing techniques. He has a keen sense of the history of the citrus industry and can always be counted on to support industry programs and decisions that are good for the industry as a whole. TCM is very proud to present our annual special award to Blaine Holcomb.” As a result of his dedicated leadership to the citrus industry, Holcomb has been elected to the board of directors of every major citrus industry organization. This is just one example of the historical and continuing link between Sharyland Orchards and the development of the Valley citrus industry. Sharyland Orchards has been featured in the Southern Living Magazine and in many major stories about the history of the Texas citrus industry Blaine Holcomb and the Shivers family have always been extremely gracious in allowing their orchards to be used as the Valley’s showcase for the news media and distinguished visitors from around the world. This has been very important to the image of the Texas citrus industry, said Ray Prewett, executive vice-president of Texas Citrus Mutual. City, Property Owners agree on Easement The city has avoided a critical delay in work on the sanitary sewer system project by reaching agreement with property owners on the acquisition of four remaining parcels of land needed for the big project. In a special council meeting earlier that week, the council reached agreement with the four property owners and set the stage for bids to be taken. “If we had not been able to reach an agreement, we would have had to go through time-consuming condemnation hearings and the project could have been delayed as much as 30 days,” Mayor Pat Townsend, Jr., said. Townsend sad the bids can now be awarded at the Oct. 13 council meeting and work can begin on schedule. The project calls for installing a big interceptor, or collector. The four parcels in question were just north of Expressway 83 between Bryan and Stewart Roads and were critical to completion of the job, Townsend said. The collector will run east and west and will pick up sewer from the smaller lines going to the sanitary sewer plant and also provide sewer service to areas that have not been served before, Townsend said. The city first considered condemnation proceedings at the Sept. 22 meeting after staff member Pete Segundo said he was unable to reach an agreement on the four parcels. The council tabled any action and instructed Segundo to try again to settle with the four to avoid lengthy and expensive condemnation harings. ten last year, he received calls asking him to call Austin and fight this new bill. He responded, “Absolutely not,” he told the audience. He said he needed to research it, gather more information so he could make an informed decision. Now, he opposes the healthcare tax district, not because there is no need for more indigent care, but because he has not been able to find anyone who could tell him what the plan is. “If there would have been a game plan, a budget, a plan of action how more primary care could be provided by this healthcare district, I might be on the other side,” he said. “But I haven’t seen that. I tried to seek that information from the right people, and I just don’t think that information is being provided to the public…. Until we have a better plan of action, I have to be against it.” He also argued that the medical school doesn’t need more funding. The county and four of the county’s largest cities agreed to provide the extra $5 million annually that was not being funded by the UT system and the Texas Legislature. “With respect to the medical school, we don’t need a healthcare district to fund the medical school,” he said. “We already have a $196 million medical school that is fully funded, which means more doctors and more specialists for this area. I agree with the proponents that the medical school will bring better paying jobs to the county. But it’s already funded…. We already have a joint venture between Hidalgo County and the medical school underway at McAllen at an existing clinic. The medical school is already training new professionals and treating the uninsured.” Hospitals to Benefit He then added, “What baffles me is the medical school, specifically the University of Texas, is not asking for more tax dollars – the hospitals are. For two years and through two different elections, the proponents have failed to show the pub-
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By Jose De Leon II
This Week
PROP 1
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lic how a hospital district would add more services to more people, especially the indigent.” Cantu explained that the hospitals in Hidalgo County already receive over $100 million from funds that help the uncompensated care and federal matching dollars. “The main reason hospital districts are created [is] to provide more care for more people – not to give money to for-profit hospitals, especially ones that are expanding and buying other hospitals,” he said. Dr. Garza, in his rebuttal said, “Take all of the obstacles…and I can only imagine in 1943 there was that and then some. I can only imagine in the 1950s in San Antonio when they were saying no, no, no to the healthcare district, and then suddenly… we have that medical school, where we have that residency program, we have the primary care they’re getting trained so they can go out into the community and give care, not just to the poor, but to everyone,” he said. “We can have the exact same thing here, if we look and we seek. And I understand there’s a lot of details that are going to be going on. But the vision can’t escape you…. Medical schools will help you train your primary care physicians. Medical schools will help you get more physicians into your area. “What are we doing with more physicians [in] your area? We’re looking at access to care. What are we doing with access to care? We’re getting more people to see more physicians, more doctors. What we’re doing with primary care is helping people prevent a catastrophic problem that could happen later on in life.” A series of questions was put to the two spokesmen. The first question was: With Medicare, Medicaid and CHIPS children insurance, the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) and other laws and programs designed to provide care for the poor and the indigent, why should we add another taxing entity
he Sharyland Independent School District Board voted to name Sharyland High School’s agricultural farm after one of the school’s most wellknown teachers during their Sept. 27 meeting. In a 6-0 vote, the board approved naming the agriculture farm after Horacio “Lacho” Garza, a retired agriculture teacher with more than 30 years of experience teaching at the high school. Board member Ricky Longoria said Garza is deserving of this honor. “I don’t know any other individual in regards to ag who meant more to students or the ag society,” he said. “Sharyland’s roots go back to farming and we’ve never taken this culture lightly. It’s time to honor one of our own, someone who started here and has positively impacted students throughout his career.” Once the motion passed, Garza, who was in atten-
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dance at the meeting along with his family, went up to each board member to personally thank them. The 57-year-old who has taught at Sharyland High School for 31 years said he was left speechless by the honor. “I’m stunned, it’s a great honor to be bestowed upon me,” Garza said after the meeting. “My goal as a teacher was to emphasize to my students how ag could benefit them and show them many life skills they wouldn’t learn anywhere else.” A formal ceremony will take place on a date to be determined to celebrate the naming, according to district Superintendent Robert O’Connor. Renovations The board also moved to begin advertising for bids on construction renovations for four of their schools. The renovations are estimated to cost $3 million. The renovations are to completely update the heating and cooling systems at Jessie L. Jensen Elementary,
Olivero Garza Elementary and Sharyland High School. During the renovations, Jensen will also have the entire roof redone. According to Sharyland ISD Assistant Superintendent Connie Lopez, the goal is to have these renovations completed by the start of the 2017-2018 school year. The motion passed 6-0 after it was made clear that two-thirds of the money for the renovations would come from the General Operations Fund -- money that was put aside to be used in committed capital projects back in 2013. The remaining $1 million would come from the four-cent tax increase that was approved by the board in the Aug. 23 board meeting. Following this increase, the tax rate increased to $1.37 per $100 valuation, or a $40 yearly property tax increase for a home valued at $100,000. Enrollment O’Connor also presented enrollment comparisons between the current school year
and the prior year. According to O’Conner, enrollment was down 35 students this year, or 10,024 compared to 10,059. Despite the decrease, the superintendent said the drop in enrollment was so small it didn’t signify a cause for alarm. “It’s 35 students, that’s not even one percent,” he said after the meeting. “Even if we saw an [increase] of 40 students, we wouldn’t be saying ‘Sharyland ISD is growing.’ We plan on monitoring this count anyway, but for now it looks like the population in our region is stable.” O’Connor also pointed out that in the future, enrollment could go up as apartment complexes are being built near Sharyland Pioneer High School and Jessie L. Jensen Elementary. He said this could lead to more students in those schools as more families move to the area.
Maria Leal in 2004. She served three consecutive terms – the maximum number of terms that can be served – and retired from the board at the end of the conference. According to TASB, a TASB director represents his or her region on the board,
guiding the organization to ensure that the association fulfills its mission to provide advocacy, visionary leadership and high-quality services to members. “For the past 12 years, I have dedicated my time and energy as a strong proponent of issues pertinent to schools in the Rio Grande Valley through my years of service on the TASB board of directors,” said Leal. “My passion is children, and providing them with a good-quality education.” To give back to the local community, Leal also served as a Catholic Daughters of America member, Lions Club member, Valley Aids Council board member, Mission Boys & Girls Club member and Mission Adult Education Advisory Council board member. Leal was appointed to the
STISD school board in May of 2002, and is serving her fourteenth year on the board. As an STISD board member, Leal has served as the finance sub-committee co-chair and as a member of the buildings and grounds sub-committee. Also in support of the district, she has participated in the district’s Strategic Planning Committee and has acted as a liaison to the STISD Education Foundation board of directors. Leal’s commitment and passion to serving students and her community landed her an induction to the Rio Grande Valley Walk of Fame. She also received the Texas Lions Foundation Fellow Award and the Friends of Special Education Award. “As a local school board member and TASB director,
Palmhurst resident recognized at state school board convention
uring the Sept. 24 annual convention for the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA)/Texas Association of School Boards (TASB), Palmhurst resident Maria Leal was recognized for her 12 years of service on the organization’s board of directors. Leal, a retired business owner and current secretary of the South Texas Independent School District (STISD) board of directors, has dedicated over 40 years to improving education for the students of Texas by serving in numerous capacities including as a board member for Mission Consolidated Independent School District (CISD). Leal was elected to the TASB board of directors for the Region One B Position
for the same purpose? Dr. Garza responded, “Here’s the problem with this scenario…. Medicaid in and of itself is broken. The scenario is that Obamacare in and of itself hasn’t done the right job.… What you have is a population that is still being missed.” But, he said, that is not his focus. Instead, his focus is “if you improve the healthcare of the needy and the people that are uninsured, you can also benefit the people that have, because you’ll be bringing in some specialists, what I call super sub-specialists, that are incredibly difficult to find. That’s the reason why I think this helps everyone.” Commissioner Cantu’s response to this question was, “It goes back to, ‘What can we do with existing money that we already have?’ He said we should “concentrate those monies on…those people that are using Medicare and Medicaid…. We need to do as much as possible to get them additional funds and to also get partnerships.” He said more partnerships are needed like the ones that already exist with the medical school. Those partnerships provide more services to more people. Dr. Garza could not answer the question about how many people are currently being served through the county indigent healthcare program and how many more would be served if Prop. 1 is approved. But he did say that the current program serves only those earning less than $7,000 per year. With more funding they could increase that number and get more people to qualify for services. Cantu said he understood that currently the program serves about 10,000 people, but he has no idea how many more would be served if Prop. 1 passes. “I don’t know how many more people are going to be served. And that’s why I was looking for a plan so we could see what the numbers would be,” he said.
See MARIA Pg. 11
September 30, 2016
page 6
Rattlers rolling into matchup against Roma
Sharyland looks to remain unbeaten in 31-5A play
and are riding a three-game win streak to go with a 2-0 start to District 31-5A play. Sharyland head coach Ron Adame spoke about his team’s play as they approach the midway point through the 2016 season. “We’re just looking at
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By Bryan Ramos he Sharyland Rattlers dropped their season opening game in a tough battle with the Weslaco East Wildcats 1321. Since then, they’ve outscored opponents 105-37
2016 Football Scoreboard
Last Week’s Game - Week #5
Nikki Rowe – 17, Juarez Lincoln – 14 Sharyland High – 40, Laredo Martin - 7 Mission – 0, La Joya High – 21 Veterans Memorial - 28, Laredo Cigarrora – 7, La Joya Palmview – 28, McAllen Memorial - 70 Laredo Nixon - 24, Sharyland Pioneer - 10
This Week’s Game - Week #6 Sharyland Pioneer at Veterans Memorial - Thursday 7 p.m.* Roma at Sharyland High - Friday 7:30 p.m.* McAllen Memorial at Mission High - Friday 7:30 p.m.* Juarez-Lincoln at Palmview - Friday 7:30 p.m.* La Joya at McAllen High - Friday 7:30 p.m.* *District Game Win/Loss Records District Season Veterans Memorial 3–0 4–1 Sharyland High 2–0 3–1 Pioneer High 1–1 2–2 La Joya High 1–0 2–3 Juarez Lincoln 0–1 2–3 Mission High 0–1 1–4 Palmview 0–1 1–4
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improvement from game to game and I think we’ve seen that. We haven’t played that perfect game. We want to be playing our perfect football when it matters but we don’t want to be peaking too early,” Adame said. “We’re building off the three game win streak and hopefully we can carry this momentum.” The Rattlers have stifled their first two district opponents, running by Valley View 45-14 and rolling over Laredo Martin 40-7 last Thursday. Senior wide receiver Edgar Alanis, who is the Rattlers’ leading receiver with 16 receptions, 225 yards and three touchdowns on the season, spoke about the team’s play thus far. “I feel we’ve been doing pretty good here in district. We’re on a three game winning streak right now so we have some momentum on our side,” Alanis said. “We just have to do everything effectively and do everything the coaches ask for.” The Sharyland defense has locked down tighter each week, holding opponents to
Sharyland’s Miguel Pena makes an acrobatic catch during the Rattlers’ Week 1 game against Weslaco East. Progress Times photo by Luciano Guerra
scores of 21, 16, 14 and 7 in their first four games of 2016. Junior outside linebacker Tyger Brigmon, a defensive captain for the Rattlers who has forced and recovered two fumbles this year, talked about the defense’s play and the scoring support they’ve
received from the offense. “I feel like we’ve played very well. Our main thing is to make as little mistakes as possible. Just really focusing on what the coaches are telling us, running through our blitzes and doing what we do,” Brigmon said. “It’s always a good feeling know-
ing that your offense is going to score. It’s very much a team thing, not just offense is good, and not just defense is good, it’s a good showing of how we work together as a team.” The Rattlers and senior
foursome of games involving Big 7 teams. Roma Gladiators at Sharyland High Rattlers On paper, tonight’s matchup between the 0-3 Roma Gladiators (2-3 overall) and the 2-0 Sharyland Rattlers (3-1 overall) might not look like much of a matchup at all. However it was just last year that the Gladiators handed the Rattlers an 18-7 Week 8 loss and went on to defeat Pioneer and Valley View to earn a three-way share of second place and their second playoff berth in a row. Coming off back-to-backto-back losses to Laredo Nixon, Veterans Memorial and Rio Grande City, the Gladiators are in a must-win
situation against the Rattlers tonight if they want to keep their playoff aspirations alive. On the other hand, the Rattlers are on a roll having won three in row, against Edinburg North, Valley View and Laredo Martin, after their Week 1 loss to a tough Weslaco East team. McAllen Memorial Mustangs at Mission Eagles Having scored only seven points total over their past two games, the 0-1 Mission Eagles (1-4 overall) are going up against a 1-0 McAllen Memorial team (3-2 overall) that put 70 points on the scoreboard just last week against the Palmview Lobos. While last week’s 21-0 loss at the hands of the La Joya
Coyotes was closer than the final score indicated, the fact that the Eagles failed to put a single point on the scoreboard throughout the 48 minutes of play has to be a concern to first year Eagles’ head coach Koy Detmer and his staff. Judging by the impressive offensive display that Memorial put on the Lobos last week, the Eagles are going to have to find the endzone at Tom Landry Stadium early and often tonight if Detmer is going to chalk up the first district win of his head coaching career against the Mustangs. Juarez-Lincoln Huskies at Palmview Lobos
See RATTLERS Pg. 7
Patriots, Rattlers and Coyotes out to remain perfect in district play
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By Luciano Guerra ith District 31-5A teams already in their third week of district play, week 5 of Valley High School football marked the first week of district play for District 30-6A teams. Unfortunately, only one of the four Big 7 6A teams, the La Joya Coyotes, emerged victorious from last week’s games while two of the three 5A teams, Veterans Memorial Patriots and Sharyland Rattlers, did the same. With the 3-0 Patriots (4-1 overall) having hosted the 1-1 Sharyland Pioneer Diamondbacks (2-2 overall) in 31-5A action last night, here’s a look at tonight’s
See DISTRICT Pg. 7
PROGRESS TIMES
WEEK #5
THE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
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pioneer
mission
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RATTLERS
DIAMONDBACKS
EAGLES
PATRIOTS
SPECIAL TEAMS
SPECIAL TEAMS
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#20 Abraham Cruz OFFENSE
DEFENSE
OFFENSE
DEFENSE
OFFENSE
SPECIAL TEAMS
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#99 Mikal Olivarez DEFENSE
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Photo Not Available #5 Miguel Pena
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September 30, 2016
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La Joya opens District 30-6A with statement win
Coyotes coming off shutout victory, ready for more
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By Bryan Ramos hen it comes to district football matchups, every game is vital to a team’s playoffs chances. The La Joya Coyotes took one step in the right direction last Thursday when they took on the Mission Eagles to kick off District 30-6A action. The game between the Coyotes and the Eagles began as a defensive showcase, with both sides refusing to give an inch. The La Joya defense opened by forcing a three and out while Mission recovered a fumble their first time on the field. The first score of the game didn’t come until 4:36 before halftime when senior receiver Joseph Moreno and junior running back Ray Alaniz marched the Coyotes offense downfield. Junior quarterback Irving Garcia capped the drive with a 7-yard run up the middle of the Eagles defense to take a 7-0 lead. The Eagles answered with a good drive of their own deep into Coyote territory led by junior running back/linebacker Steven De
RATTLERS
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quarterback Alan Alvarez hopes to continue their winning ways. Standing in between Sharyland and a fourth consecutive victory are the Roma Gladiators, a preseason favorite to finish atop District 31-5A. Roma (0-3, 2-3) has fallen in their first three district games after starting 2-0 in non-district action. Their winless district record is not indicative of the talent they possess as they’ve lost those three league games by an average of five points against some of 31-
DISTRICT
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In the first head-to-head matchup between La Joya schools’ teams of the 2016 season, the 0-1 Palmview Lobos (1-4 overall) will be hosting the 0-1 Juarez-Lincoln Huskies (2-3 overall) tonight at La Joya ISD Stadium. With the Lobos having been embarrassed by the McAllen Memorial Mustangs by a score of 70-28 last
Leon. Facing a 4th and goal from the 11-yard line, first year head coach Koy Detmer kept his offense on the field for one last shot at six before the half. Mission freshman quarterback Damian Gomez threw into the end zone only to be picked off by La Joya safety Tito Delgado. Garcia spoke about the Coyotes defense, a unit that is only giving up 11.8 points per game to opposing offenses through five this season. “Our defense is the backbone of our team. They’re the ones that pump us up and give us that motivation to go out there and put points up on the board. They’re busting their butts for us so we have to do the same for them,” said Garcia The Coyotes offense would go on to find the end zone twice more on the night. Garcia hooked up with Moreno on a 71-yard bomb for the first score and ran in the second on a 2-yard rush to give him three total touchdowns on the night for a 21-0 win. Farias spoke about his team’s play in their district opening win after the game.
“Joseph and Ray ran the ball tough and Irving had some big passes and put up points,” Farias said. “I’m very proud of our defense that they got the shutout to set the tone for district for the rest of the season.” The La Joya Coyotes improve to 2-3 on the year and 1-0 in District 30-6A while the Mission Eagles now sit at 1-4 on the season and 0-1 in league play. The Eagles will be back in action next Friday when they host the McAllen Memorial Mustangs at 7:30 p.m. at Tom Landry Stadium. The shutout is La Joya’s second of the year. Their swarming defense is led by linebackers Anthony Chapa, Rey Hernandez, Jonathan Gomez and senior safety Leo Garza. The pack of Coyotes is already looking forward to their next challenge, the McAllen High Bulldogs. “We got to start working. We’re going to enjoy this win but we’re going to work right away,” Garza said after their shutout victory. The McAllen Bulldogs (1-3, 0-0) are a new look team having lost key contributors from their 6-6 playoff
squad from last year. In their 2015 matchup, the Coyotes stifled the Bulldogs 22-18 in what was seen as an upset victory for La Joya. Now, the Bulldogs will be coming off a bye week heading into their matchup with the Coyotes and looking for revenge. With McHi having an extra seven days to prepare for La Joya, Farias knows what he needs to see from his team in order pull out the victory. “We have to be able to play hard, convert third downs and avoid making mistakes. They’re a good defensive team, very explosive on offense now that they have Gunnar back that’s going to make them a better ball club,” Farias said. “Hopefully we can keep ourselves close in the ball game to make a play at the end.” Both teams will be looking to make a statement in their District 30-6A battle. The game between the La Joya Coyotes and the McAllen High Bulldogs is set for Friday night at 7:30 p.m. at McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium.
5A’s top teams. It won’t get any easier when the Gladiators visit the Rattlers under the Friday night lights at Richard Thompson Stadium. Adame and his squad are not taking Roma lightly. “Their 0-3 district record doesn’t mean anything to us. We’re going to need to play our best game up to date Friday versus Roma because they’re going to challenge us and we recognize that,” Adame said. “That’s going to be one of the best team’s we face this year and we’re just getting our guys ready to meet that challenge.”
Roma head coach Max Habecker and his team play a keep away style of football, relying on their defense while creating clock-killing, scoring drives on offense. Adame has his group prepared for their battle with the Gladiators. “We’ve talked to our boys about maximizing every possession and producing results. We’re hoping to put them in a situation they’re not used to, playing catch up from behind,” the fifth year head coach said. “The only way to do that is to stop them defensively, force punts and produce offensively.”
week and the Huskies having lost a 17-14 nail-biter to Nikki Rowe, neither team will want to drop to 0-2 in District 30-6A play with a loss tonight. And with both teams coming off playoff seasons, the Huskies for the first time in school history and the Lobos for the second, this rivalry game is as much of a must-win for both teams as there can be at this point in the season.
La Joya Coyotes at McAllen Bulldogs Fresh off their 21-0 District 30-6A opening win against the Mission Eagles, the 1-0 La Joya Coyotes (2-3 overall) will be traveling to McAllen’s Veterans Memorial Stadium tonight to play the 0-0 McAllen High Bulldogs (1-3 overall). Against the Eagles, La Joya junior quarterback Irving Garcia completed three of four passes for 122 yards
Sharyland is ready for the test Roma presents. Brigmon spoke about how the Rattlers are approaching every game and leaving it all out on the field. “We treat each game like it’s our last. We’re just focused on the team we’re going against this week. Our mentality hasn’t changed since day one,” Brigmon said. The Sharyland Rattlers (20, 3-1) will be looking to remain perfect in District 31-5A action as they host the Roma Gladiators (0-3, 2-3) Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Richard Thompson Stadium in Mission.
and one touchdown. That resulted in a passer rating of 156.3, out of a possible perfect rating of 158.3, for Garcia. All three of Garcia’s completions went to senior Joseph Moreno for 122 yards and one touchdown. Moreno also led all Coyotes’ ball carriers with 12 rushes for 81 yards. However Garcia ran the ball five times for 20 yards and two touchdowns himself.
La Joya junior quarterback Irving Garcia lets the ball fly during the second quarter of the Coyotes 21-0 Week 5 win over the Mission Eagles. Progress Times photo by Luciano Guerra
Tuesday District Volleyball - Oct. 4 Sharyland Pioneer at Laredo Nixon
6:30 p.m.
La Joya High at Mission High
6:30 p.m.
Laredo Cigarroa at Veterans Memorial
6:30 p.m.
Juarez-Lincoln at Nikki Rowe
6:30 p.m.
McAllen Memorial at Palmview
6:30 p.m.
Laredo Martin at Sharyland High
6:30 p.m.
Saturday District/Non-district Volleyball - Oct. 1 Juan Diego Academy at Juarez-Lincoln *
11:30 a.m.
La Joya High at Palmview
12:00 p.m.
McAllen High at Mission High
12:00 p.m.
Veterans Memorial at Roma
1:00 p.m.
Sharyland High at Valley View
3:00 p.m.
Sharyland Pioneer (Open) *Non - Distric Game
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BUDGET
September 30, 2016
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ber of employees, especially if it exceeds their budget. “If we are working within our tax rate, I think that’s a plus. We have a year till the next budget. We just need to make sure that no taxes increase. Let’s try to work conservatively and find ways to bring down our expenses.” County Judge Ramon Garcia praised the governing body’s efforts to not raise the tax rate since 2001. “I’m very proud to be a part of a body that has not increased the tax rate for 15 years. We have, during that period of time, been increasing our fund balance, and our
goal has been to have a fund balance of between 10 to 15 percent. We’re at 14.7 percent when we adopt this budget.” Garcia said that this is going to “enable us to get an excellent bond rating and the money that we borrow will be at a lower interest rate. The lower the interest rate, the better the financial health of our county.” New courthouse would cost $150 million A big portion of that anticipated borrowing will be for financing the construction of a new courthouse. The project, estimated to cost $150 million, is planned to be a 311,000-square-foot facility, built on the existing
courthouse square. It would house 24 courtrooms, the 13th Court of appeals, offices for the district attorney, county clerk, public defender, indigent defense, adult probation and a holding area for the Sheriff’s Department. At the conclusion of the public hearing, budget officer Sergio Cruz reported that the county balanced the budget for the first time since 2008.
INDUSTRIAL
from pg 1
parable to those in Mexico. Here we have an environment that complements the other manufacturing companies and our goal was to make that enticing for other companies.”
Before Meade stepped in as CEO of the MEDC, Pat Townsend Jr., a Mission native and then-president of Mission Economic Development Authority, and the MEDA board oversaw the industrial park from 2003-2011. According to Townsend, the most well-known plant at the time was a production plant for the potato chips company Frito-Lay. However, the plant ultimately closed in late 2008 following new rules in the North American Free Trade Agreement that prevented them from packaging their chips with Mexican-made seasoning packets. “We had a big presence by food processing plants and the Sharyland Plantation was in
its infancy,” Townsend said. “We had a rail service coming in, but had difficulty in finding rail customers, and the Mission Regional Medical Center was growing so we had to make sure none of us were fringing unto each other’s land.” Future The Mission EDC has received offers from several small companies looking to buy the remaining parcels of land available at the park, Meade said. Once the Mission Industrial Park has completely sold all of their land, the MEDC will move forward to helping Sharyland Plantation sell their land, located along Military Highway between Bryan Road and Conway Avenue, rather
than buying more land to build a second industrial park. According to Meade, this move will ensure that everyone in the area benefits rather than just the city of Mission. “Our job is to generate wealth by recruiting companies that hire people to generate income,” Meade said. “It just makes more sense to work with a private landowner to have an agreement to help them sell their property so they can make money and then they spend it and invest it in the community and that cycle of wealth keeps going. At the end of the day, we’re still benefiting from it because several of the same people who shop or live in Sharyland go to Mission and vice-versa.”
September 30, 2016
County approves Peñitas projects, Pct. 3 constable funding
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By Mario H. Guel II he Hidalgo County Commissioners Court convened Tuesday, Sept. 13 for a special meeting with Drainage District Board and other county agencies to discuss various items throughout the county that were listed on the day’s agenda. Among those items were projects relating to infrastructure in Peñitas and an Operation Stonegarden Grant awarded to the Precinct 3 Constable’s Office. Under Urban County Pro-
gram, the engineering firm LeFevre Engineering & Management Consulting, LLC was selected to handle the design work for the paving of a parking lot for the Peñitas Public Library, as well as construction of a new sidewalk. The sidewalk will cost $32,000 and the parking lot $75,000. Once the design is complete, bids for construction will be evaluated and presented to the Commissioners Court for final approval. For the Pct. 3 Constable Office, the Commissioners Court approved all items
obituaries
Eva Benavides CORPUS CHRISTI – Eva Benavides, 74, passed away on Friday, Sept. 23, 2016, at her home. Miss Benavides was born in Los Ebanos. Survivors include her siblings, Timoteo Benavides of McAllen, Arnoldo Benavides of Edinburg, Raul Benavides of McAllen, Carlos Benavides of Houston, Maria Elena Salazar of Lake Jackson and Socorro Zarate of La Grulla. She was preceded in death by her parents, Tomas and Eva Benavides, and brother, Tomas Benavides Jr. A funeral mass was held Sept. 26 at St. Miguel Arcangel Catholic Church in Los Ebanos. Burial followed at Sullivan City Cemetery. Carlos B. De La Garza MISSION – Carlos De La Garza, 93, passed away on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016, at Amara Hospice Facility in Edinburg. Born at the family home to Carlos G. and Carmen G. de la Garza on Dec. 9, 1922, he grew up in the family business working in every aspect of what would become a meat market, grocery store, dry goods clothing store and a wholesale grocery warehouse on Conway and 8th St. He graduated from Mission High School in 1940. He went to school that year to study business administration at the University of Texas in Austin. It was interrupted in 1942 when he was
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drafted into the military and signed with the U.S. Navy in July of 1943. In the fall semester of 1943, he was sent to the Navy’s midshipman officer training school at Tulane University in New Orleans. He was assigned to work at a Naval Depot warehouse in Scotia, N.Y. until the next midshipman class began at Harvard University in May 1944. He was then commissioned as an Ensign and then Lieutenant J.G. He married Angelica Gonzalez in November of 1944 at El Buen Pastor Methodist Church in Edinburg. His first duty was as the supply officer on the destroyer, the U.S.S. Upshur, in the Atlantic. He was later assigned to the aircraft carrier, the U.S.S. Manila Bay, in the Pacific Ocean until the end of the war. He remained in the Naval Reserves for a few years. Mr. De La Garza returned home to serve as general manager for his parents’ three businesses from 1946 to 1986, when he retired. From 1950 until 1957, he served as a member of the Mission School board. He was also a member of the Mission Housing Authority. In the 1960s, he served on the board of directors of the First National Bank in Mission. He served on various committees, the board and with the choir of El Mesias United Methodist Church in Mission for many years. Survivors include his wife
presented, including an Operation Stonegarden Grant (a Department of Homeland Security grant awarded to border states and local government agencies to bolster law enforcement efforts) for FY 2015 in the amount of $100,000. Other items approved included: a request to pay overtime reimbursements; certification of revenues for the FY2015 Operation Stonegarden Grant; and appropriation of $75,000 of the Stonegarden Grant for the Hidalgo County Pct. 3 Constable Office.
of 71 years, Angelica G. de la Garza; children, Carlos B. de la Garza Jr. of Mission, Raul de la Garza of Albuquerque, N.M., Anid de la Garza of Bastrop, Nora de la Garza of Mission, Mari Schindler of Austin and Marlena Rodriguez of Mission; and five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Carmen Dominguez and Alicia Dominguez; and grandson, David I. Rodriguez. Visitation will be held on Friday, Sept. 30, from 1 to 3 p.m. at Ric Brown Family Funeral Home in Mission, and from 6 to 9 p.m. with a 7 p.m. prayer service at El Mesias United Methodist Church in Mission. A funeral service will be held Saturday, Oct. 1, at 10 a.m. at El Mesias. Burial follows at Valley Memorial Gardens Cemetery in McAllen. Serving as pallbearers are Raul de la Garza, David Dominguez, Mark Schindler, Dr. Ruben Rodriquez Jr., Scott Schindler, Ruben Rodriguez III, and Benjamin Rodriguez. Honorary pallbearers will be Carlos B. de la Garza Jr., Hugo Dominguez, Dr. Ricardo Barrera, Dr. Cayetano Barrera, Agustin de la Garza, Tony Longoria, Arturo Molina, Juan Navarro, Carlos Alaniz Sr. and Romeo Gonzalez. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to El Mesias United Methodist Church, Amara Hospice or the U.S.O. Patsy Lee Duffey MISSION – Patsy Lee
MCISD earns honors from TEA for academic performance
E
ach year, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) releases accountability ratings for schools and districts, as well as some additional honors that schools can earn called Distinctions. The distinctions lists were just released and most Mission Consolidated Independent School District (CISD) campuses earned at least one distinction. Four schools earned all six they were eligible for. Elementary schools can earn a total of six distinctions in: academic achieve-
ment in Reading/ELA, academic achievement in Math, academic achievement in Science, top 25% student progress, top 25% closing performance gaps, and postsecondary readiness. Ten Mission CISD elementary schools earned distinctions. They are: Alton Elementary School, all six distinctions possible; Cantu Elementary School, two; Cavazos Elementary School, all six distinctions possible; Escobar/Rios Elementary School, two; Leal Elementary School, five; Marcell
Elementary School, two; Midkiff Elementary School, all six distinctions possible; Mims Elementary School, four; Pearson Elementary School, two; Salinas Elementary School, all six distinctions possible. Junior high schools can earn a total of 7 distinctions. Three Mission CISD junior high schools earned distinctions: Alton Memorial Jr. High School, four; Mission Jr. High School, two; K. White Jr. High School, two.
Duffey, 83, passed away on Friday, Sept. 23, 2016, at her home. Survivors include her husband, Seth Duffey; children, Michael Duffey, Rebecca Miller, John Duffey, Susanna Thomas, Stephen Duffey, Patsy Piceynski and Edie Durdin; and 24 grandchildren and 31-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Deborah Horn, and stepdaughter, Vicki Griffin. A funeral service was held on Sept. 28 at First Baptist Church in McAllen. Burial followed at the RGV State Veterans Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to All Because of Christ, Inc. in Mission. Benjamin Howard Siegel Benjamin Howard Siegel, 69, beloved husband, father, brother, and grandfather
family. Ben enjoyed cooking for his family, fly fishing in Colorado, travelling the world, but most especially spending time with his two granddaughters. His kindness and dry humor endeared him to his friends and family. Ben is survived by his wife of 47 years, Ardell Chance; son, Jeff and his wife Christi and their two daughters, Lily, 9, and Holly, 5; daughter Erin and her husband James Hatchett; and son, Andrew. Ben is from a large and loving family, including his sisters, Deborah Siegel, Billie Noon, and Toni Perkins, and brothers Richard, Eric, Paul, and Ray Siegel and their families. A memorial service will be held at Kingwood Funeral Home at 3 p.m. on Saturday, October 1, 2016. All are encouraged to visit with the family at a reception to be held on-site immediately following the service.
PALMVIEW – Artemio Grancisco Garcia, 81, passed away on Monday, Sept. 26, 2016, in Mission. Leonor Garcia MISSION – Leonor Garcia, 66, passed away on Friday, Sept. 23, 2016, at Solara Hospital in McAllen. San Juana Elizabeth Gonzalez MISSION – San Juana Elizabeth Gonzalez, 44, passed away on Friday, Sept. 23, 2016, at Mission Regional Medical Center. Paulino Mendiola SULLIVAN CITY – Paulino Mendiola, 90, passed away on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, at Hospice & Palliative Care in McAllen. Pedro Hernandez MISSION – Pedro Hernandez, 66, passed away on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016, at McAllen Medical Center. Maria Mendiola MISSION – Maria Mendiola, 60, passed away on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016, at McAllen Medical Center. Jose Ismael Mendoza PEÑITAS – Jose Ismael Mendoza, 30, passed away on Monday, Sept. 26, 2016, at his home. Adela Rojas MISSION – Adela Rojas, 81, passed away on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016, in Mission. Simona Rosas LA JOYA – Simona Rosas, 72, passed away on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016, at Solara Hospital in McAllen.
Notices
(“Poppy”) passed away suddenly at home on September 23, 2016. He was born in Mission, Texas, October 29, 1946, to Harry Siegel and Anne Belle Forquer. Ben was a graduate of Southwest Texas State College and worked in the oil industry for over 40 years; he was proud of being part of the Signa Engineering
Emilio Alvarez MISSION – Emilio Alvarez, 61, passed away on Monday, Sept. 26, 2016, at Mission Regional Medical Center. Gonzalo Cabrera MISSION – Gonzalo Cabrera Jr., 67, passed away on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016, at Rio Grande Regional Hospital in McAllen. Artemio Grancisco Garcia
OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE
“OLG Activity School of the Gospel, Pre-School, Day Care” Open for Registrations
MISSION
PADRES OBLATOS THE FATHERS: †FR. JIM, FR. PHILION & FR. ROY (†MAGNA, †SENTINEL, †MAGNO, †AUGIE, †DIDYMUS, †CHUNKLY, †GIRLY, CANTINA, VALENTINE, NEWLY, BENDITO & CHARLOTTE) MISSIONARY CATECHIST OF THE POOR: SR. LUPITA DAUGHTERS OF MARY MOTHER OF MERCY: SR. ELIZABETH, SR. BIBIANA & SR. MADONNA † DEACON AYALA & DEACON CASTAÑEDA THE LIGHT IS OVERCOMING THE DARKNESS! LIFE IS OVERCOMING DEATH! THROUGH THE MYSTERY OF FAITH, CHRIST ILLUMINATES AND INVIGORATES US, HE “THAWS US OUT” AND KEEPS US IN TOUCH WITH HIM IN A COLD, CRUEL WORLD SO THAT WE CAN SEE AND APPRECIATE, SO THAT WE CAN DEFEND, PROMOTE, AND CULTIVATE THE BEAUTY AND THE WONDER OF LIFE EVEN IN A CULTURE OF DEATH. ST. FRANCIS, SAN ISIDRO, ST. MICHAEL ARCHANGEL, OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE, ALL OUR ANCESTORS IN THE FAITH, PRAY FOR US!
MASS SCHEDULE “Texas Friendly” spoken at all masses (and confessions) Saturday (English) ........................................... 4:00 P.M. Saturday (Spanish) .......................................... 7:00 P.M. Sunday (Spanish) ........................................... 7:30 A.M. Sunday (English)............................................. 9:00 A.M. Sunday (English)........................................... 10:30 A.M. Sunday (Tex-Mex) Mariachi Mass ......... (Noon)12:30 P.M. Sunday (Tex-Mex)............................................ 5:30 P.M. Monday - Wednesday & Friday (Tex-Mex) ....... 6:55 A.M. Thursday (Tex-Mex) ......................................... 7:00 P.M.
CONFESSIONS
Thursday ....................................................... 6:00 P.M. Saturday......................................................... 3:00 P.M.
620 DUNLAP, MISSION, TX • 585-2623
ONE BLOCK WEST OF CONWAY ON MAGNA DRIVE (6TH ST.)
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Mission First United Methodist Church 1101 Doherty Ave.
Mission TX 78572 (956) 585-1665
Sunday Services: 8:00 a.m. Informal 9:00 a.m. Contemporary Dinner with 10:00 a.m. Sunday School Friends every 11:00 a.m. Traditional 11:00 a.m. Childrens Church Friday @ 5:30pm 5:00 p.m. Spanish Worship
County records now more accessible in cloud-based system
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By Mario H. Guel II uesday, Sept.13, the Hidalgo County Clerk’s Office hosted an information session for the public to learn about a
recently purchased online public record search engine, specifically for property records, called Vanguard. Vanguard is a public records database that can be accessed by anyone free
NOW OPEN Monday - Friday 11am-3pm Call ahead for Chef Special and Soup of the Day!
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Phone: (956) 581-2763 Eduardo F. Borjon, M.D., M.B.A., MPH
Family Health Center of Mission
Diplomat of the American Board of Family Practice
New Hours. Now Open Saturdays Mon. Tues, Thurs & Fri - 8-5 Wed & Sat 8 - 12 pm We accept most major insurances medicare & medicaid
September 30, 2016
www.ptrgv.com | www.strgv.com
Accepting NEW PATIENTS of All Ages Open until 6pm • Mon-Wed
of charge by simply typing search.kofile.com in a computer search browser. After registering on the site, users can search and obtain property records, marriage certificates and liens, among other official documents. It’s user-friendly, efficient and convenient, given that it can be accessed from almost anywhere with a good Internet connection. Vanguard is a search engine tool created by a Dallas-based company called Kofile Inc. that specializes in digital conversion software and records preservation. The contract expires in 2020 and costs the County Clerk’s Office about $64,000 per month, and $1.38 per document that is indexed in Vanguard’s cloud. Unlike the old system that relied on one server, which often proved to be unreliable, Kofile uses a cloud-hosting software that runs on multiple servers; thus, offering greater storage capacity and reliability. In the past, power outages or bad weather disrupting the single server were common issues that the office encountered. This is one reason why many companies have switched over to cloud-hosting software, because if one server goes down, the other servers can still maintain the hosting capability. The Commissioners Court approved the County Clerk Office’s request to upgrade their system back on Oct. 28, 2014. The office had been using an old system for 20 years, called Affiliated Computer Services (ACS), which recently was purchased by the Xerox corporation. According to employees, ACS was obsolete and was more time consuming. Before contracting Kofile, clerks had to use additional software like Microsoft Excel and Quickbooks due to ACS’s limited functions. According to Noe Gonza-
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lez, the office manager at the County Clerk’s Office, “The good thing about this system is basically that it’s a customized system, specifically for our needs and what we do. All reports are tailored to us.” When asked how long it took to fully implement Vanguard–meaning the scanning and transferring millions of documents to a new software–Lopez admitted that it was a “lengthy” process. “Conversion is a big deal. Being able to convert existing data into the new system was a lengthy process in itself.” A process that took about four months to complete since the tool was unveiled back in February. “We had to make sure that we didn’t miss anything. People use these records on a dayto-day basis. Us not having even a single record is unacceptable,” Lopez said. Chief Deputy Clerk, Annette C. Muniz attested by saying the conversion had to be done gradually, otherwise a rapid transition would have disrupted the workflow of the office. “We have to allow, not just our employees to get used to the system, but also the public, the attorneys and the courts. “Before 1992, everything was in the books,” Muniz said. “Anybody doing research had to come and pull out the big index books.” Hidalgo County is one of the first counties in the state to adopt a cloud-based system, she added. Now, official public records, such as deeds, property records, marriage licenses, cattle brands and liens are online for the public to view and print at their own leisure. When the new County Clerk, Arturo Guajardo, Jr., came into office in 2007, he decided it was time for the County to get all the records digitized.
See RECORDS Pg. 11
Sylvia Bustamante MPAS, PA-C
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Dr. Steven Havener
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Patients Love Our Short Wait Times! Open until 6 p.m. Monday - Wednesday
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September 30, 2016
MARIA
from pg 5
my passion for students has driven each and every decision I have ever made, and will continue to make as I serve students in the Rio Grande Valley,” said Leal. “I have a sincere desire to continue to be an active TASB member, and will take with me the knowledge gained from my experiences serving on the TASB board to my position as secretary on the STISD board, where I will do everything in my power to continue to support this fine educational institute—a nationally- and stateranked district.”
RECORDS
from pg 10
“This was a paper-based environment,” Guajardo said. “We had over 900 million documents to scan and
[convert] into digital format to offer to the public. And it’s not as easy as just ‘go ahead and scan documents and store them away in the software,’ we had to be absolutely
Mission Boys & Girls Club from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. through Dec. 16. A $6,400 grant from IDEA Mission North Academy will provide the funding necessary for the Boys & Girls Club to provide the personnel needed for the program. Noise Ordinance Amended
The city’s noise ordinance was revised to allow use of noisy mechanical devices requiring air pressure at construction sites only between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. Zoning Approvals Under zoning matters the council approved six rezonings, four condi-
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ORDINANCE NO. 4404 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MISSION, TEXAS GRANTING A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR THE SALE & ON-SITE CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES – THE LORETTO BISTRO AT MISSION, 1233 E. GRIFFIN PARKWAY, LOT 1 AND THE S. 25’ OF LOT 2, BLOCK 1, BEL-AIRE HEIGHTS SUBDIVISION READ, CONSIDERED AND APPROVED THIS 26TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2016. Norberto Salinas, Mayor Attest: Anna Carrillo, City Secretary
ORDINANCE NO. 4408 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MISSION, TEXAS, AMENDING VARIOUS PORTIONS OF CHAPTER 42 – NOISE – OF ITS CODE OF ORDINANCES; AND PROVIING A CODIFICATION CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING A PUBLICATION DATE READ, CONSIDERED AND APPROVED THIS 26TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2016. Norberto Salinas, Mayor Attest: Anna Carrillo, City Secretary
ORDINANCE NO. 4409 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MISSION, TEXAS, AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 4287 TO AMEND AND RESTATE THE PERSONNEL POLICY MANUAL FOR EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF MISSION, TEXAS; PROVIDING FOR A PUBLICATION CLAUSE AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE READ, CONSIDERED AND APPROVED THIS 26TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2016. Norberto Salinas, Mayor Attest: Anna Carrillo, City Secretary JOB OPENING HCID#6 is seeking a temp-to-hire Bookkeeper after 6 months. The applicant should be dependable and have good work ethics with at least 5 years’ experience. The Bookkeeper must have experience in following areas: payroll, general ledger, reconciliations, billing, creating month end financials, journal entries, inventory, contract invoicing, deposits, year-end reports, yearly budget preparations and customer service. Must have strong Microsoft Office Excel knowledge, be detail oriented and be able to multi-task. The bookkeeper will also assist withother duties as needed, including answering phone calls, making copies, filing, faxing, emailing, etc. Applications may be picked up at 3735 N FM 492, Mission, TX, no later than October 7, 2016 or call Martha at (956) 585-8389, HCID#6 is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
other words, “three different people in three different locations, entering the same name at three different times,” to avoid any typographical errors. from pg 1
buy • sell • trade • rent • hire
2013 CHEVY SPARK, low miles, $8,995, OBO, call Eddie 956-2501596. CHEVY TAHOE LT 2005, white, 73k miles, 2 owners, good condition, $7,000, call 956-2224497.
sure that we didn’t miss a single document” and that everything is accurate. Thus, “when we indexed those documents, we triple key verified each one.” In
POLICE
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tional use permits, two homestead exemptions, and three preliminary and final plats. The David Reyna Mobile Home & R.V. Subdivision received preliminary plat approval only with a vote of three to one after being discussed in executive session. Taylor Senior Village Subdivision,
Classified Rate:
1 Week = $7.00 2 Weeks = $10.00 4 Weeks = $14.00 Rate is for up to 15 words. Add 25¢ each additional word there after.
service skills. Fax resume to 956-9940430 or email ceci@ ccrgvpizza.com. ZITRO ELECTIC NOW Hiring Project Managers, Service Techs, and Foreman. Must have 5 yrs. experience & Journeyman License. Apply at Zitro Electric, 604 Palmview Dr., Palmview, TX 956-5818899. EASTER SEALS IS now hiring: Parents as Teachers Parent Educator, Physical Therapist, and
a townhome development on 10.285 acres, received preliminary and final plat approval. The proposed private and gated subdivision is located on the west side of Taylor Road, between Summer Breeze Avenue and East 20th Street. The Developer is The Brownstone Group Inc.
LA PLACITA Deputy City Manager Randy Perez told the Mission City Council Monday, Sept. 26, the bus stop at that location would be given a concrete bench with a sheltering canopy and new light fixtures, and the parking lot at that location would be repaved and used to park buses when not in use. At the same time, the city will renovate the amphitheater, bringing it into compliance with ADA standards. City Manager Martin Garza Jr. told
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Grants Accountant. Interested qualified candidates may submit their resumes at: HumanResources@ EasterSeals-RGV.org Mobile Homes MUST SELL 2005 Fleetwood 16ʼx64ʼ. Large 3 bdr/1 lg ba, open kitchen living room concept. 956-3418367 Mission Bell Trade Winds RV. Services PIANO LESSONS FOR all ages. Call 956585-8587.
ORDINANCE NO. 4401 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MISSION, TEXAS GRANTING A REZONING OF LOT 4, BLOCK 90, MISSION ORIGINAL TOWNSITE SUBDIVISION, FROM R-1 (SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL) TO C-2 (NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL) READ, CONSIDERED AND APPROVED THIS 26TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2016. Norberto Salinas, Mayor Attest: Anna Carrillo, City Secretary
ORDINANCE NO. 4406
ORDINANCE NO. 4397 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MISSION,TEXAS GRANTING A REZONING OF THE NORTH 219.64’ OF THE WEST 577.57’ OF THE EAST 609.7’ OF LOT 29, BELL-WOODS CO.’S SUBDIVISION “C”, FROM AO-I (AGRICULTURAL OPEN INTERIM) TO C-3 (GENERALBUSINESS) READ, CONSIDERED AND APPROVED THIS 26TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2016. Norberto Salinas, Mayor Attest: Anna Carrillo, City Secretary
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the Progress Times the city would rework the benches in the amphitheater along with providing ADA qualified stairs and/or ramps with suitable railing to prevent falls. Garza said the fountain at the bottom of the amphitheater would be eliminated and the stage at the bottom would be solid, without the current walkways that may be hazardous
to some performers moving their equipment on and off the stage. He said that because there are several activities coming up in the near future, such as the Christmas celebration, the Texas Citrus Fiesta Fun Fair and the Winter Texan Fiesta, no work will be done on the facility until after those events are over.
ORDINANCE NO. 4400 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MISSION, TEXAS GRANTING A REZONING OF 8.898 ACRE TRACT OF LAND OUT OF PORCION NO. 2, SAN JOSE SUBDIVISION, FROM AO-I (AGRICULTURAL OPEN INTERIM) TO R-1A (LARGE LOT SINGLE FAMILY) READ, CONSIDERED AND APPROVED THIS 26TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2016. Norberto Salinas, Mayor Attest: Anna Carrillo, City Secretary
ORDINANCE NO. 4403 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MISSION, TEXAS GRANTING A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR THE SALE & ON-SITE CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES – LOS PESCADORES RESTAURANT, 601 E. 9TH STREET, SUITE A, BEING LOTS 4-8, BLOCK 165, MISSION ORIGINAL TOWNSITE SUBDIVISION READ, CONSIDERED AND APPROVED THIS 26TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2016. Norberto Salinas, Mayor Attest: Anna Carrillo, City Secretary
PUBLIC NOTICE
The Mission City Council will hold a Regular Meeting on October 10, 2016 at 4:30 p.m. at the City Hall Council Chambers, 1201 East 8th Street, Mission, Texas in order to consider the following: Rezoning: A 1.0 acre tract of land out of the South 10.0 acres of the North 20.0 acres of Lot 172, John H. Shary Subdivision, from R-1 (Single Family Residential) to C-3 (General Business); Rezoning: 1.25 acres out of the Southeast part of the North 10 acres of the South 16.97 acres of Lot 172, John H. Shary Subdivision, from R-1 (Single Family Residential) to C-3 (General Business); Rezoning: 1.0 acre out of the North 10 acres of the South 16.97 acres of Lot 172, John H. Shary Subdivision, from R-1 (Single Family Residential) to C-3 (General Business); and Rezoning: 6.065 acres out of Lots 21 & 22, Rees Subdivision, from AO-I (Agricultural Open Interim) to C-3 (General Business) If a zoning is amended during the public hearing, it shall be pursuant to the City of Mission’s Amendatory Zone Policy Statement. Anyone interested is invited to attend. Anna Carrillo, City Secretary
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MISSION, TEXAS GRANTING A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR THE SALE & ON-SITE CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES – JALL’S SPORTS BAR & GRILL, 1810 W. GRIFFIN PARKWAY, SUITES B, C, & D, BEING LOTS 7 & 8, INSPIRATION POINT SUBDIVISION, PH. I READ, CONSIDERED AND APPROVED THIS 26TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2016. Norberto Salinas, Mayor Attest: Anna Carrillo, City Secretary
ORDINANCE NO. 4398
ORDINANCE NO. 4399
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MISSION, TEXAS GRANTING A REZONING OF LOTS 1-5 & 7-20, SNO-BIRD ESTATES SUBDIVISION, FROM AO-I (AGRICULTURAL OPEN INTERIM) TO R-1 (SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL) READ, CONSIDERED AND APPROVED THIS 26TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2016. Norberto Salinas, Mayor Attest: Anna Carrillo, City Secretary
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MISSION, TEXAS GRANTING A REZONING OF A 1.59 ACRE TRACT OUT OF LOT 205, JOHN H. SHARY SUBDIVISION, FROM AO-I (AGRICULTURAL OPEN INTERIM) TO C-3 (GENERAL BUSINESS) READ, CONSIDERED AND APPROVED THIS 26TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2016. Norberto Salinas, Mayor Attest: Anna Carrillo, City Secretary
ORDINANCE NO. 4405
ORDINANCE NO. 4407
ORDINANCE NO. 4402
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MISSION, TEXAS GRANTING A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT TO INSTALL A 90’ COMMUNICATIONS TOWER TO PROVIDE WI-FI SERVICES TO GUESTS AT CHIMNEY PARK RESORT & R.V. PARK (U/R), 4224 S. CONWAY AVENUE, CHIMNEY PARK RESORT & R.V. PARK (U/R) READ, CONSIDERED AND APPROVED THIS 26TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2016. Norberto Salinas, Mayor Attest: Anna Carrillo, City Secretary
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MISSION, TEXAS GRANTING A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR LOS PESCADORES DRIVE-THRU, 601 E. 9TH STREET, SUITE A, LOTS 4-8, BLOCK 165, MISSION ORIGINAL TOWNSITE SUBDIVISION READ, CONSIDERED AND APPROVED THIS 26TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2016. Norberto Salinas, Mayor Attest: Anna Carrillo, City Secretary
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MISSION, TEXAS AMENDING ORDINANCE NO.780 DESIGNATING PLACES WHERE BEER AND OTHER ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES MAY BE SOLD WITHIN THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE CITY OF MISSION TO INCLUDE THE PREMISES LOCATED AT 1233 E. GRIFFIN PARKWAY, LOT 1 AND THE S. 25’ OF LOT 2, BLOCK 1, BEL-AIRE HEIGHTS SUBDIVISION READ, CONSIDERED AND APPROVED THIS 26TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2016. Norberto Salinas, Mayor Attest: Anna Carrillo, City Secretary
PUBLIC NOTICE The Mission Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a Regular Meeting on October 12, 2016 at 5:00 p.m. at the City Hall Council Chambers, 1201 East 8th Street, Mission, Texas in order to consider the following: Rezoning: A 0.34 acre tract of land, more or less, out of Lot 19-1, West Addition to Sharyland Subdivision, from R-1 (Single Family Residential) to C-3 (General Business) Rezoning: A 0.39 acre tract of land, more or less, out of Lot 19-1, West Addition to Sharyland Subdivision, from R-1 (Single Family Residential) to C-3 (General Business) If a zoning is amended during the public hearing, it shall be pursuant to the City of Mission’s Amendatory Zone Policy Statement. Anyone interested is invited to attend. Anna Carrillo, City Secretary
NOTICE OF INTENTION TO ISSUE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION NOTICE is hereby given that it is the intention of the City Commission (the “City Commission”) of the City of Alton, Texas (the “City”) to adopt an Ordinance providing for the issuance of interest- bearing obligations of the City presently contemplated to be designated and known as the “CITY OF ALTON, TEXAS COMBINATION TAX AND REVENUE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION, SERIES 2016A” (the “Certificates of Obligation”) for the purpose of providing for the payment of contractual obligations to be incurred in connection with the design, planning, acquisition, construction, equipping, expansion, repair, renovation, and/or rehabilitation of certain City-owned public property, specifically being: (1) street improvements including drainage, sidewalks, and streetlights; (2) fire protection system improvements, including new hydrants and water storage; (3) sewer system improvements, including collection and treatment; (4) city park improvements including Garcia and Vela Park expansions and renovations; (5) City public facility improvements, including a civic center/library; and (6) payment of contractual obligations for professional services in connection therewith (to wit: consultants, engineering, financial advisory, and legal). The City Commission tentatively proposes to authorize the issuance of the Certificates of Obligation at its regular meeting place at 509 South Alton Boulevard, Alton, Texas, at a meeting of the City Commission to be commenced at 7:30 p.m. on the 8th day of November, 2016, in an amount expected not to exceed $4,000,000. The City Commission proposes to provide for payment ofthe Certificates of Obligation from a pledge of an annual ad valorem tax levied upon all taxable property within the City, within the limits prescribed by law, as well as an additional pledge of the net revenues of the operation of the City’s water utility system. /s/ Salvador Vela Mayor City of Alton, Texas
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September 30, 2016
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Football Contest Official Entry Form
Booster Club Grand Prize
WIN $500
For Your School’s Athletic Booster Club
Check your school or favorite team below. The team with the most entries at the end of the season will win $500 for the school’s Athletic Booster Club. ❑ Sharyland Rattlers ❑ Juarez-Lincoln Huskies ❑ Mission Eagles ❑ Pioneer Diamondbacks ❑ La Joya Coyotes ❑ Veterans Memorial Patriots ❑ Palmview Lobos
WEEK 7 GAMES
Check the box next to the team you think will win from each of the games below
❑ SHARYLAND ❑ MISSION HIGH ❑ PIONEER ❑ PALMVIEW ❑ VETERANS MERIOAL ❑ MCALLEN HIGH ❑ ROMA
Bert Ogden
Tie Breaker 1 Enter the number of points scored by the winning team of the following game:
Mission High vs. Juarez Lincoln
vs. vs. vs. vs. vs. vs. vs.
❑ LAREDO CIGARROA ❑ JUAREZ LINCOLN ❑ RIO GRANDE CITY ❑ NIKKI ROWE ❑ LAREDO NIXON ❑ MCALLEN MEMORIAL ❑ VALLEY VIEW
Tie Breaker 2 Enter the number of points scored by the winning team of the following game:
Pioneer vs. Rio Grande City
Name: __________________________________________ City: ____________________________________________ Phone & Alt Phone: __________________________________ Email: ___________________________________________ I am age 18 or older. Yes, I would like to receive the newsletter and promotional emails from the Progress Times. We will NEVER share your email address with anyone else. High School Football Contest Rules
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YOUR HOME TOWN INDEPENDENT AGENT
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Phone: 581-2183
A $50 cash prize will be awarded each week for the winning entry. The entry coming closest to calling all the games correctly wins. In event of a tie, the tying entry that comes closest to the score of Tie Breaker #1 wins. If a tie remains, the tying entry that comes closest to the score of Tie Breaker #2 wins. If a tie still remains, the $50 prize will be divided evenly among the winning entries. Booster Club Grand Prize: At the end of the regular football season, the total number of complete, qualified entries will be tallied for each team with the team’s check box marked. The $500 Grand Prize will be awarded to the Athletic Booster Club of the team with the most entries submitted. No Purchase necessary. Limit one entry per household each week of the contest period. Must be age 18 or older to enter the contest. HOW TO ENTER: Check the box next to the team’s name that you predict to win each high school game. Next, for the tie breakers, predict the total points scored by the winning team in the Tie Breaker #1 game, and the total points scored by the winning team in the Tie Breaker #2 game. Fill in your name, address, phone number (This is how we notify the winners!), and email address. Check the box to receive the FREE Progress Times weekly newsletter and mail or drop off your entry form at Progress Times, 1217 N. Conway Ave., Mission, TX 78572. Or submit your entry online at www.progresstimes. net. All entries must be received by the Progress Times no later than 2 p.m., Thursday preceding the listed games. All entries must be submitted on the Official Entry Form printed in the Progress Times or Sharyland Times, a photocopy of the entry form, or submitted electronically from our official website submission form. Only one entry per household per week. Previous winners and all members of the same household are ineligible for subsequent weeks of the contest. Prizes must be claimed within 7 days of notification or announcement in the Progress Times. Decisions made by the Progress Times staff are final. The winners agree to allow the Progress Times to use their names and photographs to announce the winners and for promotional purposes online and in print. Employees of the Progress Times and their immediate family members are not eligible to win.
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